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Gino Cuneo, Pacific Northwest winemaker and owner of Cuneo Cellars in Walla Walla, is bringing Italian style wines to Walla Walla and the Northwest by growing Italian wine grape varietals in the warm climate regions of Washington and Oregon. Consumers can try their Italian style wines in their new tasting room in downtown Walla Walla.

CUNEO: I think people that love great Cabernet or Syrah or some of the Bordeaux varietals that are famous here in Walla Walla are also generally open to some of the other potentially great wines such as that the Nebbiolo makes or Sangiovese, so that gives us the opportunity to showcase those in a beautiful setting. Nothing better than putting it in a glass for them and letting them taste it.

They also offer a very unique wine.

CUNEO: Really unique in this country - what are known as Appassimento wines, where they dry the fruit. It’s an ancient method where we lay the fruit out on mats and then dry it in the natural climate here of Walla Walla for about 3 1/2 months, and then we make the wine from that. I think we’re probably the only one in America right now doing a truly Amarone style.

Cuneo says that the Appassimento wines have been very well received.

CUNEO: They go with a nice array of foods as well. Particularly slow braised or roasted foods. We’ve found actually those were our best selling wines.